Heather Berkman: Finally, America breaks this deadlock

Analysis

After four months of taking a backstage role in pressuring for a compromise in Honduras, this week the US finally stepped up to the plate and sent down its top officials on Latin America.

These officials aren't coming back empty-handed: not only did they successfully pressure Roberto Micheletti and Manuel Zelaya to compromise, but they showed that despite long-standing criticisms of its rather uneven history in the region, the US still has a relevant role to play. Until now, the US let other players, such as the Organisation of American States and other regional leaders take charge. But with 29 days until elections and no agreement in sight, the US finally played its hand to pressure for a compromise.

The US was able to pressure Micheletti and Zelaya precisely because its support for both sides was crucial. The former, and his cohorts, were trying to call the international community's bluff that the elections would not be recognised. US officials probably made it crystal clear that they were serious about the need for a compromise to ensure the credibility of the elections.

Financial pressure on the government sharpened the issue: questions surrounding the legitimacy of the elections would have led to costly delays before the new administration could get financial support.

Zelaya, meanwhile, was coming to understand that he had limited ability to mobilise domestic support and a growing dependence on external help. That realisation weakened his capacity to demand his outright restitution, and increased the chances of an agreement. On this front, too, there seems little doubt that US pressure played a role.